Quectel UC20 Time Synchronization Application Note V1.0

UC20
Time Synchronization
Application Note
UMTS/HSPA Module Series
Rev. UC20_Time_Synchronization_Application_Note_V1.0
Date：2019-04-09
Status: Released
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UC20 Time Synchronization Application Note
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UC20_Time_Synchronization_Application_Note 1 / 14
About the Document
History
Revision Date Author Description
1.0 2019-04-09 Winnie XI Initial
Contents
About the Document ................................................................................................................................... 2

Contents ....................................................................................................................................................... 3
1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 4
2 Time Synchronization AT Commands ............................................................................................... 5

2.1. AT+CTZU Automatic Time Zone Update ................................................................................ 5
2.2. AT+CTZR Time Zone Reporting ............................................................................................. 6
2.3. AT+QLTS Obtain the Latest Time Synchronized Through Network ....................................... 8
2.4. AT+CCLK Real Time Clock ..................................................................................................... 8
2.5. AT+QNTP Synchronize Local Time with NTP Server ............................................................. 9
3 Time Synchronization Procedures................................................................................................... 11

3.1. Time Synchronization via NITZ ............................................................................................... 11
3.2. Time Synchronization via NTP Server..................................................................................... 13
3.3. Recommended Time Synchronization Process ...................................................................... 14
1 Introduction
This document provides instructions on how to synchronize time of Quectel UC20 module.
2 Time Synchronization AT Commands

This chapter describes the AT commands related to the time synchronization features of Quectel UC20
modules.
2.1. AT+CTZU Automatic Time Zone Update
This command is used to enable and disable automatic time zone update via NITZ. The configuration is
stored in NV automatically.
AT+CTZU Automatic Time Zone Update

Test Command Response
AT+CTZU=? +CTZU: (0,1)
OK
Write Command Response
AT+CTZU=<onoff> OK
If there is any error:

ERROR
Read Command Response
AT+CTZU? +CTZU: <onoff>
OK
Maximum Response Time 300ms
Parameter
<onoff> Integer type. The mode of automatic time zone update.
0 Disable automatic time zone update via NITZ
1 Enable automatic time zone update via NITZ
Example
AT+CTZU?
+CTZU: 0
OK
AT+CTZU=?
+CTZU: (0,1)
OK
AT+CTZU=1
OK
AT+CTZU?
+CTZU: 1
OK
2.2. AT+CTZR Time Zone Reporting
This command is used to enable and disable the reporting of time zone change event. If the reporting is
enabled, the MT (mobile terminal) returns the unsolicited result code +CTZV: <tz> or +CTZE:
<tz>,<dst>,<time> whenever the time zone is changed. The configuration is stored in NV automatically.
AT+CTZR Time Zone Reporting

AT+CTZR=? +CTZR: (0-2)
OK
AT+CTZR=<reporting> OK

ERROR
AT+CTZR? +CTZR: <reporting>
OK
Parameter
<reporting> Integer type. The mode of time zone reporting.

0 Disable time zone change event reporting
1 Enable time zone change event reporting with an unsolicited result code
+CTZV: <tz>
2 Enable extended time zone reporting with an unsolicited result code
+CTZE: <tz>,<dst>,<time>
<tz> String type. The sum of the local time zone (difference between the local time and
GMT is expressed in quarters of an hour) plus daylight saving time. The format is
"±zz", expressed as a fixed width, two-digit integer with the range -48 ... +56. To
maintain a fixed width, numbers in the range -9 ... +9 are expressed with a leading
zero, e.g. "-09", "+00" and "+09".
<dst> Integer type. Indicate whether <tz> includes daylight savings adjustment
0 <tz> includes no adjustment for Daylight Saving Time
1 <tz> includes +1 hour (equals 4 quarters in <tz>) adjustment for daylight saving
time
2 <tz> includes +2 hours (equals 8 quarters in <tz>) adjustment for daylight saving
time
<time> String type. The local time. The format is "YYYY/MM/DD,hh:mm:ss", expressed as
integers representing year (YYYY), month (MM), date (DD), hour (hh), minute (mm)
and second (ss). This parameter can be provided by the network when delivering time
zone information and will be presented in the unsolicited result code of extended time
zone reporting if provided by the network.
Example
AT+CTZR=2
OK
AT+CTZR?
+CTZR: 2
OK
+CTZE: “+32”,0,“2013/08/23,06:51:13” //The value of <reporting> is 2
2.3. AT+QLTS Obtain the Latest Time Synchronized Through Network
This command is used to obtain the latest time synchronized through network.
AT+QLTS Obtain the Latest Time Synchronized Through Network

AT+QLTS=? OK
Execution Command Response
AT+QLTS +QLTS: <time>,<ds>
OK
Parameter
<time> String type. The format is "yy/mm/dd,hh:mm:ss±zz", indicating year (two last digits),
month, day, hour, minutes, seconds and time zone (indicates the difference, expressed in
quarters of an hour, between the local time and GMT; range -48...+56). E.g. 6th of May
2004, 22:10:00 GMT+2 equals to "04/05/06,22:10:00+08.
<ds> Daylight saving time.
2.4. AT+CCLK Real Time Clock
This command is used to manage real time clock (RTC) of the module. The current setting is retained until
the module is totally disconnected from power.
AT+CCLK Real Time Clock

AT+CCLK=? OK
AT+CCLK? +CCLK: <time>
OK
AT+CCLK=<time> OK
If there is error related to ME functionality:

+CME ERROR: <err>
If there is any other error:

ERROR
Parameter
<time> String type. The format is "yy/mm/dd,hh:mm:ss±zz", indicating year (two last digits), month,
day, hour, minutes, seconds and time zone (indicates the difference, expressed in quarters
of an hour, between the local time and GMT; range -48...+56). E.g. May 6th, 1994, 22:10:00
GMT+2 equals to "94/05/06,22:10:00+08".
<err> An error related to mobile equipment or network. For more details, please refer to Chapter
14.5 of Quectel_UC20_AT_Commands_Manual.
Example
AT+CCLK? //Query the local time
+CCLK: "08/01/04,00:19:43+00"
OK
2.5. AT+QNTP Synchronize Local Time with NTP Server
NTP is intended to synchronize the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) with the time server. Before using
NTP, the host should activate the context corresponding to <contextID> via AT+QIACT first. Depending
on the network, it will take at most 125 seconds to return the result.
AT+QNTP Synchronize Local Time with NTP Server

AT+QNTP=? +QNTP: (1-16),“SERVER”,(list of supported <port>s),(0,1)
OK
AT+QNTP? If in the process of synchronizing local time:
+QNTP: <server>,<port>
OK
Or else, response:
ERROR

AT+QNTP=<contextID>,<server>[,<p If synchronized successfully:
ort>][,<autosettime>] OK
+QNTP: <err>,<time>

ERROR
Maximum Response Time 125s, determined by network.
Parameter
<contextID> Integer type. The context ID. The range is 1-16.

<server> String type. The address of NTP server.
<port> Integer type. The port of NTP server.
<autosettime> Integer type. Indicate whether to automatically set synchronized time to local time.
0 not set
1 set
<err> Integer type. Synchronization result. For possible values of the parameter, please refer
to Chapter 3 of Quectel_UC20_TCPIP_AT_Commands_Manual.
<time> String type. The time synchronized from NTP server.
The format is “YYYY/MM/DD,hh:mm:ss±zz”. The range of zz is -48~56.
3 Time Synchronization Procedures

There are two ways to realize time synchronization:
⚫ Synchronizing time with NITZ (Network Identity and Time Zone)

The NITZ is a mechanism for provisioning local time and date, time zone and DST offset, as well as
network provider identity information, to mobile devices via a wireless network.
⚫ Synchronizing time with NTP (Network Time Protocol)

The NTP is a networking protocol for clock synchronization between computer systems over
packet-switched, variable-latency data networks.
The first way is highly recommended, but if the local network does not support NITZ, synchronizing time
with NTP should be taken.
3.1. Time Synchronization via NITZ
To synchronize time via NITZ, customers should set AT+CTZU=1 to enable automatic time zone update.
In addition, customers can check the time zone reporting by setting AT+CTZR=1 or AT+CTZR=2. The
settings of these commands will be saved automatically without using AT&W.
The settings of AT+CTZU=1 and AT+CTZR=1 or AT+CTZR=2 will take effect after rebooting. After
rebooted, the module will report the current GMT time once the network time information is received.
Customers can query GMT time by AT+CCLK?.
Example
//When AT+CTZR=2:
AT+CTZU=1
OK
AT+CTZR=2
OK
RDY //Take effect after rebooting
+CFUN: 1
+CPIN: READY
+QUSIM: 1
+CTZE: "+32",0,"2019/04/04,01:03:33" //Report time when receiving network time information

AT+CCLK? //Query current clock
+CCLK: "19/04/04,01:03:35+32"
OK
//When AT+CTZR=1
AT+CTZU=1
OK
AT+CTZR=1
OK
RDY //Take effect after rebooting
+CFUN: 1
+CPIN: READY
+QUSIM: 1
+CTZV: "+32" //Report time zone

AT+CCLK?
+CCLK: "19/04/04,01:17:44+32" //Query current clock
OK
3.2. Time Synchronization via NTP Server
Before using NTP server, the host should activate the context corresponding to <contextID> via
AT+QIACT first. And then, Customers should set AT+QNTP to synchronize the local time via NTP.
The recommended optional NTP server addresses are listed below:
⚫ Windows NTP server address: time.windows.com; Port:123

⚫ The official time server of the United States: time.nist.gov; Port:123
⚫ The NTP server address commonly used in China: ntp.neu.edu.cn / cn.ntp.org.cn; Port:123
Besides, customers can select server addresses tested by themselves.
Example
AT+CCLK="80/01/06,00:02:16+32" //Setup time zone

OK
AT+CGREG?
+CGREG: 0,1 //Registered to GPRS network
OK
AT+QIACT=1 //Activate the context
OK
AT+QNTP=1,"time.windows.com",123 //Synchronize the local time via NTP
OK
+QNTP: 0,"2019/04/04,02:13:43+32" //Successfully synchronize the time

AT+CCLK? //Query real time
+CCLK: "19/04/04,02:13:52+32" //GMT time
OK
NOTE
If customers need to setup time zone, the command AT+CCLK=<time> should be used, for the time zone
cannot be synchronized via NTP.
3.3. Recommended Time Synchronization Process
The recommended time synchronization process is shown below.
Power on
AT+CTZU=1
AT+CTZR=1/2
Restart the module or Switch CFUN
No Synchronize time via NTP server:

AT+CPIN?
AT+CSQ
Does local network
AT+CREG?
operator support
AT+CGREG?
NITZ?
AT+CCLK=<time>
Response: AT+QIACT=<contextID>
Yes +CTZR: AT+QNTP=<contextID>,<server>
<tz> or [,<port>]
+CTZE: AT+QIDEACT= <contextID>
<tz>,<dst>
,<time>
Query current time

AT+CCLK?
Response: +QNTP: <err>,<time>
Figure 1: Recommended Time Synchronization Process

Quectel UC20 Time Synchronization Application Note V1.0

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UC20

UMTS/HSPA Module Series

Quectel Wireless Solutions Co., Ltd.

Or our local office. For more information, please visit:

For technical support, or to report documentation errors, please visit:

About the Document

Revision Date Author Description

1.0 2019-04-09 Winnie XI Initial

About the Document ................................................................................................................................... 2

2 Time Synchronization AT Commands ............................................................................................... 5

3 Time Synchronization Procedures................................................................................................... 11

2 Time Synchronization AT Commands

2.1. AT+CTZU Automatic Time Zone Update

AT+CTZU Automatic Time Zone Update

If there is any error:

2.2. AT+CTZR Time Zone Reporting

AT+CTZR Time Zone Reporting

If there is any error:

<reporting> Integer type. The mode of time zone reporting.

+CTZE: “+32”,0,“2013/08/23,06:51:13” //The value of <reporting> is 2

2.3. AT+QLTS Obtain the Latest Time Synchronized Through Network

AT+QLTS Obtain the Latest Time Synchronized Through Network

2.4. AT+CCLK Real Time Clock

AT+CCLK Real Time Clock

If there is error related to ME functionality:

If there is any other error:

2.5. AT+QNTP Synchronize Local Time with NTP Server

AT+QNTP Synchronize Local Time with NTP Server

Write Command Response

If there is any error:

<contextID> Integer type. The context ID. The range is 1-16.

3 Time Synchronization Procedures

⚫ Synchronizing time with NITZ (Network Identity and Time Zone)

⚫ Synchronizing time with NTP (Network Time Protocol)

3.1. Time Synchronization via NITZ

Customers can query GMT time by AT+CCLK?.

RDY //Take effect after rebooting

+CTZE: "+32",0,"2019/04/04,01:03:33" //Report time when receiving network time information

RDY //Take effect after rebooting

+CTZV: "+32" //Report time zone

3.2. Time Synchronization via NTP Server

The recommended optional NTP server addresses are listed below:

⚫ Windows NTP server address: time.windows.com; Port:123

Besides, customers can select server addresses tested by themselves.

AT+CCLK="80/01/06,00:02:16+32" //Setup time zone

+QNTP: 0,"2019/04/04,02:13:43+32" //Successfully synchronize the time

3.3. Recommended Time Synchronization Process

The recommended time synchronization process is shown below.

Restart the module or Switch CFUN

No Synchronize time via NTP server:

Query current time

Figure 1: Recommended Time Synchronization Process

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